Paul Wright, as Head of Uber Advertising for Uber UK&I, spearheads a dedicated team focused on driving business success. His career journey began at Sky, transitioning from TV sales to the burgeoning commercial web arena. Along the way, he co-founded a sports-focused ad network and held pivotal digital roles at Bauer and AOL.
Venturing into Apple's inaugural ad business, iAd, Paul assumed leadership across international markets. He's also played integral roles in various Adtech ventures, notably contributing to Sizmek's acquisition by Amazon in 2019. A fervent advocate for the potency of digital advertising in bridging brands with consumers, Paul champions diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
In this week's episode, we delve into strategies for scaling businesses, addressing workplace bullying, and offering valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
We discuss:
- Childhood spent in a boarding school environment
- Commencing career journey at Lloyds Bank
- Securing a position at the then-unknown TV company, Sky
- Witnessing the emergence of the internet era
- Going bust on the first day of the 2002 World Cup
- Establishing and expanding the first business venture
- Extracting valuable lessons from roles at Apple and Amazon
- Confronting workplace bullying challenges
- Managing dyslexia while navigating career challenges
- Embracing a new career path with Uber
Chapters:
(00:00:00) Overcoming Challenges: Dyslexia to Entrepreneurship
(00:04:18) Uber Ads and Brand Targeting
(00:08:11) Creating an Ecosystem within Uber
(00:12:09) Unusual Upbringing and Starting in Advertising
(00:16:080) The Revolution of Sky TV
(00:20:02) The Rise and Fall of Sports.com
(00:23:56) Starting a New Business
(00:27:41) Starting a Business and Seeking Funding
(00:31:32) The Sales Process and Validation
(00:35:38) Finding Opportunities After Unemployment
(00:39:34) From Omnicom to Apple: A Journey in Digital Advertising
(00:43:28) Working with Eddie Cue at Apple
(00:47:39) The Second Bounce of the Ball
(00:51:45) Dyslexia and Entrepreneurship Challenges
(00:55:38) Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace
(00:59:29) Managing a Team During Uncertainty
(01:03:14) The Importance of Values in Business
(01:07:14) Dealing with Workplace Bullying
(01:11:14) Strain on Relationships and Confidence Issues due to Bullying at Work
(01:15:34) The Importance of Listening to Teams and Preventing Bullying
(01:19:43) Culture and Leadership Training
(01:23:32) Joining Uber and Building a Team
(01:27:19) Building Trust and Providing Value
(01:31:10) Collaboration and Feedback in Leadership
(01:35:12) Learning from Pirates and the Hype Cycle of AI
(01:39:01) The Business Model of AI and its Impact
(01:43:04) Leading a Team in an Uncharted Direction
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Unity & Motion - A London based production company specialising in commercials and branded content Email: info@weunify.co.uk This is a UNIFY Podcast. Produced by Unity & Motion Credits: Director: Charles Parkinson Poet & VO Artist: Ashley Samuels-McKenzie Editor: Catherine Singh